diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/api/common/extHost.api.impl.ts b/src/vs/workbench/api/common/extHost.api.impl.ts
index 87558e6d0eccd..d38277ed35b55 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/api/common/extHost.api.impl.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/api/common/extHost.api.impl.ts
@@ -245,14 +245,14 @@ export function createApiFactoryAndRegisterActors(accessor: ServicesAccessor): I
 				return extHostTerminalService.getDefaultShell(false, configProvider);
 			},
 			openExternal(uri: URI) {
-				return extHostWindow.openUri(uri, { allowTunneling: !!initData.remote.isRemote });
+				return extHostWindow.openUri(uri, { allowTunneling: !!initData.remote.authority });
 			},
 			asExternalUri(uri: URI) {
 				if (uri.scheme === initData.environment.appUriScheme) {
 					return extHostUrls.createAppUri(uri);
 				}
 
-				return extHostWindow.asExternalUri(uri, { allowTunneling: !!initData.remote.isRemote });
+				return extHostWindow.asExternalUri(uri, { allowTunneling: !!initData.remote.authority });
 			},
 			get remoteName() {
 				return getRemoteName(initData.remote.authority);